Your Checklist for an Awesome Campervan Road Trip
To the tent camper, a campervan could be misconstrued as an unnecessary luxury. Why would you spend the extra cash to rent a campervan when a tent, hammock, or even a sleeping bag would do?
Renting a camper van may seem like a gateway drug to - dare I say - “glamping,” but believe me when I say the perks of a mobile camp outweigh any notion that you may “miss out” on the camping experience.
The ease of not having to set up a tent, check our bedding for creepy-crawlies, and move smellables in and out of a locked car saved a lot of time that was instead spent enjoying the National Parks of the southwest. We didn’t have to check bags full of camping gear and fear that our things wouldn’t make it to our destination. Plus, we ate fresher food (thanks, mini-fridge!) and got to sleep on a mattress instead of waking up with a knot in my back.
So, in the spirit of getting outside as often, as conveniently, and as responsibly as possible, I’m encouraging anyone to try out a campervan (even you, cowboy camper!) without the guilt that it’s “too much.” And when you take that leap into your first campervan rental, here are some things I’m glad I did - and wish I had known - before renting our campervan.
YOUR CAMPERVAN ROAD TRIP CHECKLIST
BE PREPARED TO SMELL A LITTLE FUNKY
It’s not camping if you don’t work up a funk by the end of your trip. Love it or hate it, you’re bound to get a bit smelly while camping. Although you may park your campervan at sites with access to a shower, you may not have the time (or desire!) to shower during your stay since you’re bound to get a little dirty a few hours after showering. Plus, some camp showers leave a lot to be desired. But instead of going full funk during your trip, bring a package of biodegradable baby wipes and save your van-mates from banishing you to the backseat.
DOWNLOAD YOUR MAPS BEFORE YOU LEAVE
The best road trips are the kind with long stretches of asphalt and minimal cellular range, the latter of which can scare off the unprepared. Although I highly recommend you keep an updated physical roadmap and compass with you at all times, you can save yourself a lot of trouble by downloading Google Maps for offline use. Downloading offline maps allows you to use your phone like a true GPS without the need to be within cellular range. These detailed maps aren’t small files, though — large areas like the National Parks can take up significant space on your phone, so feel free to delete the maps after you turn your keys in. Speaking of downloads…
QUEUE UP SOME AMAZING PODCASTS AND PLAYLISTS
The cardinal rule of road trips is to have a constant stream of bops ready to cure boredom. If you’re more of the podcast type, that’s fine too; just pick your poison and make sure to download all of your media before your trip. Assuming you’re a nature-lover, I recommend downloading The Outside Podcast, Wild Ideas Worth Living, and of course, my very own Road Trip Playlist.
PACK AS LIGHT AS POSSIBLE
Whether you’re sharing a van with one other person or bringing the whole family clan, space is going to be tight. You might think you can store your belongings in the trunk, but then where would the mini-fridge, camp stove, and sink go? My husband and I thought we packed light with two backpacks and one carry-on, but we still found ourselves packed pretty tight in the van. Do your best to limit your belongings to one backpack. That being said…
PACK SMALL ITEMS WITH BIG TASKS
That bluetooth receiver we’re used to in newer cars doesn’t come standard in most campervans. If you’re lucky, you might have an aux port; but if you don’t have the appropriate aux cable, you might be spending the road trip actually talking to your van mates. Ew, right? I joke, but still — there are some items that take up very little space in your backpack but make the entire road trip so much easier, like:
Car chargers and cables
Aux cord - this one has lasted long after our road trip
Silicone coffee dripper - I even use this one when I make a single cup at home
Reusable silicone sandwich bags - I stuff everything, from snacks to extra camera batteries, into these ones. They only need a rinse if you’re on the road, and save a ton of plastic
Some companies, like Escape Campervans, charge a few bucks for aux cables and car chargers, so no worries if you leave yours at home. Check with the company you’re renting from to find out what’s included with your campervan rental.
CLEAN OFF YOUR BOOTS
You’re hiking across beautiful mountain ranges, jaunting about the desert, and maybe even dancing outside on a rainy day (you free spirit, you). No matter where you’re going or what you’re doing, you are most likely picking up quite a bit of dirt, and all of the little species that go along with it. A little mud never hurt, but when you’re living, driving, and eating in the close quarters of a campervan, it’s best to keep the dirt at bay. More importantly, traveling with dirty boots can contribute to the spread of invasive species, which is not a good time for anyone.
DON’T GO BELOW A 1/2 TANK
Although this bit of advice is true for all travel applications, campervans carry a bit more heft (hello, mini-fridge, futon, and hiking gear) that cause a sizable decrease in gas mileage. If you’re taking your van into wilder country, you’re more likely to encounter wilder geography and less likely to find a gas station. I’m a bit of a nut when it comes to saving pennies per gallon, so I scoffed at the $4.50/gallon price tag in Death Valley National Park. This mistake had me driving on fumes for a few tens of miles, only to end up paying $5 per gallon right outside of the park. Gas up at every chance you get, and take that time to stop at the restroom as well.
I like to give you the heads up that some posts contain affiliate links. I never link out any product I wouldn’t personally use, and I always recommend that you borrow, make, or buy used when possible.
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